Voluminal compensator for the hoppers of weighing feeders



Ot. 28, 1 941 Y w. F. BOKUM 2,261,049

VOLUMINAL COMPENSATOR FOR THE HOPPERS OF WEIGHING FEEDERS Filed Oct. 21, 1940 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 28, 1941. w. F. BOKU M' VOLUMINAL COMPENSATOR FOR THE HOPPERS OF WEIGHING FEEDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 21, 1940 u Looeucoo canoe oouooon uoa ocooo 40000 a once Jan n aao v n on 0000 soccer unoaoooc Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES I VOLUMINAL COMPENSATOR FOR THE HOPPERS OF WEIGHING FEEDERS William F. Bokum, .lenkintown, Pa., assignor to Proctor & Schwartz,=.. Incorporated, PhiladcL phia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 21, 1940, Serial No. 362,146

I i 7 Claims. (Cl.

This invention relates to a voluminal compensator for constantly maintaining a substantially uniform pressure against a mass of fibrous stock contained in a hopper as the volume therein is being constantly depleted and periodically ,5

replenished. p

The present invention more specifically relates to a device of the character noted as applied to the stock hopper of an automatic weighi'ngfeeder normally employed with a 'garnett or 10 for ultimately producing yarns of uniform diameter throughout the lengths thereof.

. Non-uniformity in yarn diameter is frequently generated in the stock feeder, as a result of the feeder delivering varying quantities ofstockto the licker-in rolls of the carding "b1- garnett machine at different times, thus starting the formation of a web or fleece of varying thickness and density, which is subsequently split into uneven slivers and worked into uneven rovings. This unevenness will frequently follow; through the condensing, gilling, drawing and doubling operations and show up in the ultimate yarn as thin or thick spots, as the case may be, depending upon whetherthe licker-in rolls were starved or overfed at various times.

The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic compensator for the stock hopper of a weighing feeder, for example, a feeder of the type disclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 1,660,249 dated February 21, 1928, to maintain the stock contained in the hopper, regardless of its volume, the rate of its withdrawal, or the amount of its periodic replenishment,'at a substantially uniform, pressure against the upwardly moving side of the spiked apron of the feeder, by which the stock is continuously withdrawn from the hopper and fed to the scale pan of the feeder.

, When the scale pan contains a charge of stock 5 of predetermined weight it trips, automatically, 1

to discharge the weighed volume of stock in front of the consolidating board onthe discharge apron of the feeder, by which a layer of stock of uniform thickness and density is constantly and Q continuously fed to the licker-in rolls of the gar- 4 nett or carding machine.

In order to maintain a flow of stock to the licker-in rolls continuously, the scale pan must be mechanically operated, to dump its contents .5

onto the discharge apron of the feeder in front of the reciprocating consolidating board, at: predetermined time intervals, regardless of whether or not the scale pan contains a full or tripping charge of stock. I

If the spiked apron is feeding the proper amount of stock to the scale pan, the pan will fill and dump automatically within the time cycle of mechanical trippings. But, if the spiked apron does not feed the stock rapidly enough for the scale pan to fill and dump automatically, the mechanical trip becomes effective before the pan is fully charged. This causes starving of the licker-in rolls, at times.

Failure of the spiked apron to supply sufficient quantities of stock to the scale panwithin the time cycle periods of the .mechanical trippings, is due to the spiked apron. failing to pick up the proper amount of stock in the hopper; and this failure is due to the weight of the volume of stock'in the hopper being insufficient to press the stock against the spiked apron with sufiicient force to 'causethe spikes to bite into the stock and carry away the .required'amount thereof.

' Under the principles of the present invene tion, the spiked apron is assured of picking up a full load of stock, by reason of the stock being at all times pressed against the ascending face of the apron with sufficient force to cause the spikes to bite into and grip the stock regardless of the volume of stock containedin the hopper.

The construction and operation of the device forming the subject matter of the present invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the hopper and sufficient of a weighing feeder to illustrate the principles of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 1, a side frame of a weighing feeder of the type disclosed in the above mentioned prior patent is illustrated at I. Operably mounted between the two relatively spaced parallel side frames l of the weighing feeder is the usual spiked apron 2, with the one run 3 of said apron moving upwardly in a plane disposed at an angle at to the vertical rear edge of the side frame I.

Secured to the rear edges of the side frames are secured to rear extensions 1 of the side frames I. The upper rear corners of the hopper side plates 4, 4 are connected by a horizontal angle plate 8.

Pivotally mounted in bearings 9, 9, carried by the rear flanged edges of the side plates 4, 4 respectively, is a cross shaft II]. Intermediate the bearings 9, 9, the cross shaft I6 is preferably squared, with arms II, II secured thereto and spaced apart therealong. Secured to the squared portion of the cross shaft I9 and to the arms II is a perforated movable rear wall plate I2 of the hopper.

Pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end of the ascending run 3 of the spiked apron 2 is a shaft I3, which, like the cross shaft II], extends completely across the hopper 5. ends of the shaft I3 are pivotally mounted in bearings I4, I4 which are secured to the frame extensions "I, I. Intermediate the bearings I4, I4 the cross shaft I3 is preferably squared and has secured thereto a plurality of arms I5 to which, and the squaredportion of the shaft I3, is secured a perforated movable bottom plate I6 of the hopper 5.

Pivotally connected at I! and I8 to the outer normally free swinging ends of the perforated back plate I2 and perforated bottom plate I6 of the hopper 5 is an intermediate perforated plate I9. The perforated plates I2, I9 and I6 constitute a complete articulated element which serves as the bottom and rear wall closures for the hopper 5.

Secured to one end of the shaft I3 is an arm 20, on which is adjustably mounted a weight 2|; and secured to one end of the shaft I0 is an arm 22 on which is adjustably mounted a weight 23. Normally the weights 2I and 23 will swing the bottom plate section I6, the rear plate sec- The opposite said plate and through the mouth a into the tapering pocket formed between the ascending run 3 of the apron and the bottom plate I6 of the hopper.

The weight of the replenishing material falling on and against the terminal plate sections I2 and I6 of the articulated closure element I2- I9-I6, counteracts the influence of the weights 2I and 23 and causes the plate sections I2 and I6 to swing about the axes of the shaft ID and I3 respectivelyand move said plates from their broken line positions of Fig. 1 toward their full line positions in said figure, to an extent depending upon the amount of replenishing stock placed on the plate I2.

However, the Weights 2| and 23, even during the replenishing of the stock, tend to rock the plates I2 and I6 back into their broken line positions and, in so doing, cause these plates to exert a substantially uniform pressure constantly against the body of stock lying between the articulated wall formed by the plates I2I9I6 and the ascending inclined run 3 of the spiked apron.

It will be observed that, when the plates of the articulated wall are in their full lined positions assumed when the hopper 5 is substantially full, the plates I2 and I6 tend to lift the stock, while the relative angles of the plates tend to cause the stock to slide toward and be pressed against the ascending run 3 of the apron 2. The weight of the stock within the hopper at such times tends to counterbalance or offset the effects of the weights 2| and'23, but the weight of the stock tion I2, and the intermediate connecting plate section I9 of the articulated closure element from their full line positions shown in Fig. 1 to their broken line positions shown in Fig. 1, when the hopper is empty, or when the volume of stock contained in the hopper is depleted to a material tion I6 is arranged at a rather sharp angle 31 with 1 respect to the ascending face 3 of the apron 2, whereby any stock lying between the downwardly converging surfaces formed by the plate I6 and apron run 3, will tend by gravity and'its own weight to slide down the steeply inclined surface 1 of the plate section I6 and thereby be pressed firmly against the ascending run 3 of the spiked apron.

When the one terminalsection I6 of the articulated closure element I 2-I9I6 is in its deeply inclined position above noted, the second terminal section I2 of saidelement assumes an acute angle with respect to the'horizontal, and lies on a comparatively slightly inclined plane descending from the rear upper edge 8 of the hop per downwardly toward the ascending run 3 of the apron 2, with the hinge edge I! of the plate I2 spaced from the ascending run 3 of the apron 2 and providing a mouth 2 for the passage of stock into the tapering pocket formed by the ascending run 3 of the apron 2 and the steeply inclined bottom plate I6 of the hopper defining the angle y.

With the plates I2, I6 and IS in their broken line positions of Fig. 1, replenishing stock placed on the perforated plate I2 will slide down alone, when the hopper is substantially full, is sufficient to press the stock against the spiked apron with sufficient force to cause the spikes to bite into the stock, resulting in the apron being fully loaded across its full width between the side frames I, I of the feeder.

As the stock is gradually removed from the hopper 5 by the apron 2 and its volume thereby decreased, the weights 2I' and 23 become more and more effective to compensate for the weight of the stock removed, said compensation being effected by the swinging of the plates I2 and I6 toward the ascending run 3 of the apron 2. As the volume of stock becomes more and more depleted, the angle between the inclined plate I6 and the inclined plane of the ascending run 3 of the apron decreases. Any stock then lying on the plate I2 slides down said plate and through the mouth 2 into the tapering pocket 1/, where the action of the weight 2| and the force of gravity acting on the Weight of the stock in the pocket 11 becomes maximum and presses the stock in the pocket against the ascending run 3 of the spiked conveyer with a force substantially equal to that exerted by the weight of the stock itself when the hopper was substantially full and the effects of the weights 2I and 23 practically nullified by the counterbalancing effect of the weight of the volume of stock in the full hopper.

From the above it will be clear that with the arrangement herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings, the stock is pressed against the ascending run of the spiked apron constantly and continuously under a substantially uniform pressure at all times, whether the hopper is full, partially full, or practically empty, and also during such times as the volume of stock within the hopper is being replenished.

With the arrangement as disclosed, the spiked apron at all times picks up a full load of stock from the hopper and in so doing delivers suflicient stock "to the scale pan tobringthel contents thereof up to the predetermined tripping weight 'at whichthe pan is automatically dumped. Fully loading the spiked, apron at all times causes tripping of the scale pan within a period of time less than the time intervals in thecycle of operations of the mechanical tripper for the scale pan, thus assuring that each time the scale pan is dumped it deposits a predetermined amount of stock on the discharge apronof the feeder. It will be understood that each time the scale pan is dumped, the spiked apron is stopped'while the consolidating board operating overfthe 'dis charge apron of the feeder pushes the deposited load received from the scale pan forwardly on the discharge apron and then returns to a normal position ready to receive the next load from the scale pan; and that, when the consolidating board re-assumes its normal position, the scale pan is reset and the spiked apron started for the beginning of a new cycle. Thus, with the discharge apron moving at a predetermined linear speed, and with the scale pan dropping full predetermined loads of stock at regularintervals onto the discharge apron, and with the consolidating board moving said periodic deposits one by one into contact with each other on the discharge apron successively, the discharge apron delivers to the licker-in rolls of the garnett or carding machine a substantially uniform layer of stock continuously.

The plates I2, I 6 and 19 are primarily perforated to reduce their weight and are preferably made of a light weight metal in order to permit the use of weights 2| and 23 of minimum size. The perforations in these plates, however, serve a further useful and desirable purpose, by permitting dust, dirt, and fine particles of broken fibres to pass out of the bulk of stock contained in the hopper, thus effecting a cleaning of the bulk.

In order to collect the refuse falling through the perforations in the plates I2, l9, I6, the device is provided with an imperforate bottom 25 extending between the frame extensions 1, 1 and preferably disposed at an incline downwardly and rearwardly from a point adjacent the shaft l3. The plate 25 and the frame extensions 1, 1 form a receptacle for receiving the refuse. The refuse container is preferably provided with a discharge gate 26, hingedto the bottom plate 25 along its lower edge and maintained in place by hooks or other suitable devices 28 carried by the frame extensions I, I and engaging the gate 26 along its upper edge.

I claim:

1. A fibrous stock feeding device comprising a stock hopper including a movable spike-bearing wall adapted to remove stock from the hopper,

and an articulated sectional wall for pressing stock contained in the hopper against said spike-bearing wall, said articulated wall comprising one terminal section pivotally mounted adjacent said spike-bearing wall, a second terminal section pivotally mounted remotely with respect to said spike-bearing wall, and an intermediate section pivotally connected along opposite parallel edges thereof to corresponding edges of said terminal sections spaced respectively from the pivots thereof.

2. A fibrous stock feeding device comprising a stock hopper including a movable spike-bearing wall adapted to remove stock from the hopper, and an articulated sectional wall for pressing stock contained in the hopper against said spike- Der, and an articulated sectional wall for 'pressing stock contained in the hopper against said spike-bearing -wall, said articulated wall comprising one terminal section pivotally mounted at one lower corner of said hopper adjacent said spike-bearing wall, a second terminal section pivotally mounted in the upper diagonally opposite corner of the hopper, and an intermediate section pivotally connected along parallel opposite edges thereof to corresponding edges respectively of said terminal sections spaced from the pivots of said terminal sections.

4. A fibrous stock feeding device comprising a stock hopper including a movable spike-bearing wall adapted to remove stock from the hopper, and an articulated sectional wall for pressing stock contained in the hopper against said spike-bearing wall, said articulated wall comprising one terminal section pivotally mounted at one lower corner of said hopper adjacent said spike-bearing wall, a second terminal section pivotally mounted in the upper diagonally oppo- Site corner of the hopper, and an intermediate section pivotally connected along parallel opposite edges thereof to corresponding edges respectively of said terminal sections spaced from the pivots of said terminal sections, motivating means constantly urging the first said terminal section to assume an acute angular position with respect to said spike-bearing wall to form a tapering pocket with said spike-bearing wall and said first terminal section in downwardly converging relation to each other.

5. A fibrous stock feeding device comprising a stock hopper including a movable spike-bearing wall adapted to remove stock from the hopper, and an articulated sectional wall for pressing stock contained in the hopper against said spikebearing wall, said articulated wall comprising one terminal section pivotally mounted at one lower corner of said hopper adjacent said spikebearing wall, a second terminal section pivotally mounted in the upper diagonally opposite corner of the hopper, and an intermediate section pivotally connected along parallel opposite edges thereof to corresponding edges respectively of said terminal sections spaced from the pivots of said terminal sections, motivating means constantly urging the first said terminal section to assume an acute angular position with respect to said spike-bearing wall to form a tapering pocket with said spike-bearing wall and said first terminal section in downwardly converging relation to each other, and the second terminal section to assume an acute angular position with respect to the horizontal, with said spaced edge thereof overhanging said pocket to guide stock into said pocket.

6. A fibrous stock feeding device comprising a stock hopper including a movable spike-bearing wall adapted to remove stock from the hopper, and an articulated sectional wall for pressing stock contained in the hopper against said spikebearing wall, said articulated wall comprising two terminal sections and an intermediate section having opposite parallel edges pivotally connected to corresponding edges respectively of said terminal sections, a pivot shaft for one terminal section mounted in one lower corner of the hopper adjacent said spike-bearing wall, a pivot shaft for the second terminal section located in an upper diagonally opposite corner of said hopper, and a weighted arm on at least one of said pivot shafts for rocking said terminal sections toward said spike-bearing wall.

7. A fibrous stock feeding device comprising a stock hopper including a movable spike-bearing wall adapted to remove stock from the hopper, and an opposite wall adapted to press the stock against said spike-bearing surface, said opposite wall comprising at least two sections with one end of one section pivoted at a lower corner of the hopper adjacent said spike-bearing wall and one end of the second section pivoted at the upper diagonally opposite corner of the hop- Der, with the outer ends of the two sections disposed in adjacent relation to each other, and means for maintainingadjacent relationship between said outer ends of said sections during simultaneous swinging movement of said sections about their respective pivots.

Will-LIAM F. BOKUM. 

